Category: WGW

Are You Ready to Apply for Grants?

Ready…Set…Go Whoa!

You have a great project your organization is super excited about, and you think you are ready to apply for a grant. But are you really ready? The kneejerk reaction is to say, “Yes, of course,” because you’re so eager to get started on the process.

But wait!

You can’t afford a false start that will disqualify your organization and keep it out of the running for the funding. So, before you say you’re ready to apply for a grant, take a step back. And another.

The best thing you can do to increase your chance of obtaining grant funding is making sure you’ve done your legwork. Merriam-Webster defines legwork as:

active physical work (as in gathering information) that forms the basis of more creative or mentally exacting work (such as writing a book)

There’s a lot of ground to be covered.

Try this exercise to see if you’re on track and in the best shape to start researching and applying for grants.

Y or N: I can clearly articulate our NPO’s core mission and everyone at the organization agrees.

Y or N: We’ve done our research and know precisely how our project would benefit the community. We’ve interviewed/surveyed/conducted focus groups/brainstormed with community members who would benefit from our project and the project incorporates their input and comments. We also have general community support.

Y or N: This project fits our core mission very, very well. We’re right on the mark.

Y or N: We have planned for the project. We have explored other means of funding and have determined that the best way to fund the project, in part or in whole, is through a grant.

Y or N: This project is best done by us, and in the near future. We know our timeline and we have specific, measurable outcomes.

Y or N: We are very organized. We have readily available documents that provide detail on and an understanding of our organization such as:

  • Our history and timeline, the evolution of our philosophy and mission
  • Who’s who and what they do
  • A list of prior grants and project results
  • A description of past, current, and upcoming projects
  • Our track record: Tangible ways in which the organization has benefited the community
  • Copies of media mentions of the organization or organization leaders and recommendations from clients, community awards and recognition.
  • Particular strengths: What does our organization particularly pride itself on? How is that relevant to our mission and this project?
  • Particular areas of improvement relevant to our mission and this project, along with plans and a timeline for getting up to speed in those areas.

Y or N: We are not being overly reliant or overly hopeful about securing grant money. We have other robust sources and means to accomplish the organization’s mission.

Y or N: We have the staff to supervise the use of the grant money, including keeping accurate and detailed records.

Y or N: We realize it’s a very competitive market for grant money, guaranteed grants don’t exist, and other NPOs could be as deserving and eager for the grant as we are.

Y or N: We are ready to learn from rejection. But we will do everything possible not to be rejected.

Y or N: We are confident in our ability to research the thousands of possible grant sources from governments and private foundations. And once identified, we are confident we know where to go for additional information, who to call, and what to say.

Y or N: Everyone agrees we will only pursue the kinds of funding previously identified in our plan, and not be tempted by the funding available for projects outside of our mission, that might cause us to lose our focus.

Y or N: We have experienced, successful grant writers in the organization. We understand that each granting organization will ask for different information, in differing formats. Just because we wrote a grant before doesn’t mean we cut and paste existing descriptions in the new application.

Y or N: We understand that applying for grants is a very time-consuming process and if not done exactly right, paying very strict attention to what is wanted and when, it could be a big waste of our precious time.

Y or N: We gave completely honest responses to all of the above.

Honest truth: Did you answer a resounding yes to all of these questions?

If not, then you might need a partner to help you in the long run or the short run – we can team up with whatever help you need with grant research and every other aspect of grant proposal development. We’re experts and love what we do. You’re in it to win it. Let us help!

Finding a Grant for Your Nonprofit

How to fund your 501 C3

Grants – the name itself conjures up feelings of red tape and bliss. However, for NPOs they can be an essential tool for success.

On the bright side, grants can be obscenely generous, they tend to attract additional grants, and they’re validating – the problem is applying for them requires some grant savvy. The best way to break the ice is to identify the…

Types of grants available for NPOs

The list of grants offered to nonprofits is much too long to list, and even the types of grants are quite extensive. So, here’s a collection of some of the more common genres of grants available for NPOs, to help determine what’s best for yours.

Start-up grants. Also referred to as “seed money,” the idea is to give an initial boost to promising NPOs so they can focus on getting the ball rolling rather than raising money. The downside is they typically decrease each year – they’re not intended to be permanent.

In-kind grants. Sometimes goods and services are just as useful as funding, and they can come in unexpected ways. For example, it’s not uncommon for foundations to provide human resources, such as legal and accounting services. This genre also includes marketing grants to help get your NPO noticed.

Endowment grants. This breed of grant contributes the interest of an investment, on the contingency that the principal funds remain untouched. The principal can also be added to via other contributors, or fundraising campaigns.

Planning grants. Evolving your NPO consumes valuable resources that can be prohibitive. Planning grants are kind of like seed money for new development; they fund the pre-execution effort required to advance your mission.

Donor-directed grants. Having donors on your side can be advantageous beyond their direct contributions. In some circumstances, individuals involved in foundations are in positions to influence how that organization’s funds are directed – this is called a “donor direct grant,” and it’s usually listed as individual giving by nonprofits.

Where to look for grants

Once you have an idea of what you’re looking for, the next step is where to find it.

Board members. They’re already your allies, so make sure they know you’re seeking out grants – they might be connected with foundations that fund work in your field. However, don’t rely too heavily on what you come up with via this route; instead, think of it as more of a gathering of your options, rather than blindly putting energy into a lead simply because it came from a board member.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance and Grants (.gov). Remove the spaces and add “.gov” to the end and this URL will take you to a site that allows NPOs to research grants and guidelines – in some cases there’s even the option to apply.

Local grantmakers’ organizations. Chances are, your home city or town has a regional association of grantmakers. Again, consider this a method of looking at the entire menu before making a decision – request a list of their members and grant criteria for each member (if available), then find out if the grantmakers host “meet the funder” events or enable NPOs to make presentations to their organization.

The Foundation Center Online. For a nominal fee, the Center gives you access to their online database of funders. However, if the membership isn’t in your budget, they also work with Regional Foundation Centers, such as the Free Library of Philadelphia, who provide free access to the Online Directory during business hours.

What’s the right grant for your NPO?

Focusing on the types of grants that are best for your specific needs is a crucial step towards funding success. Williams Grant Writing can help you ensure that focal point encompasses all your options, so you can leave the red tape to those with the sharpest scissors. For more advice on finding the best grant for your NPO, reach out today.

The Fine Art of Dining with Donors

The hallmarks of the greatest grant seekers.

It’s an exciting scene. Two people take their seats at a candlelit supper. Two parties ready to make a good impression and maybe even form a lasting partnership. They know a little about each other and all the signs point toward it being a good fit. The music plays. The candles flicker…then one of them starts talking really loudly at high speed about their own needs. All the while they’re not listening to a word the other person is saying, gets everything wrong about them, and pays no attention to what their date ordered.

Check, please.

Cringeworthy, right? In that one simple scene you learned everything not to do when seeking a grant from prospective funders. If we could sum it up even more succinctly, you’ll need preparation, patience, poise, and presentation to stand a chance against the thousands of grant seekers on donors’ date lists.

Competition is tough, and there’s no such thing as a guaranteed grant. We don’t want you discouraged or downhearted, and that’s why we’ve put together a fun (and totally factual) guide to stand you in good stead. We’re going to talk you through best practice like it was a date with a potential donor. Ready? Then let’s get down to business and discuss the challenges of finding funding.

Hard cash versus humanity

If you’re a nonprofit organization (NPO), then you’re not in business for the money. You’re there because your mission matters to you and to those who benefit from your work. This puts you in the fine position of being able to project the human interest in yourself or your business: a very attractive prospect for those looking to fund NPOs. You’re more than a financial deficit with a face. You’re someone trying to do something that matters.

What you should never forget is that the ones who are doing the funding are not just a giant dollar sign with legs. They’re people too, and who they are matters.

Don’t turn up for dinner thinking your date will pay for everything and all you have to do is tell them why they should. Why was this grantor an attractive “partner” for you? Why do you think you will be attractive to them? Like any relationship, you’ll need to have something that links you both – something that connects and can make it last.

Know the people you’re reaching out to for funding as best you can before making the first move. Find out as much as possible from their public contact information (their dating profile, if you like). You wouldn’t close your eyes and click on any random dating profile then roll up to the restaurant. You’d want to know if there’s a common interest. You’d want to know what you already share, what can be built on and anything you might just have to live with.

Does your potential donor have a website? A newsletter? A number you’re permitted to call? Some grantors do but others don’t. Sometimes a letter of inquiry is the best (and only) way to go. However they want to be contacted, be a considerate date and adhere to that method.

Hard date(..a)

OK that one was bad. But yes: hard data. This is key to your success. Who you are numerically has to stand up to scrutiny as strongly as you do personally. Don’t make the mistake of not having your figures together in a clear and concise format. A well-oiled set of numbers with no soul won’t sway funders, and the same goes for a fantastic spirit with shaky math. After all, if you’re not 100% on where you are financially, how will you know how much funding to ask for?

Not only this: if you’re successful in achieving grant funding, then your donor is going to want a detailed report on how much is going where, when, to whom, and why. Cultivate a head for figures before you show up for dinner.

You’ve found a grant body. Just who are they, exactly?

You’ve found out they give grants? Great! These generous groups are all pretty much the same right? Wrong. Finding out they’re open to funding is only the first part. How do they fund?

Are they a private group or foundation, run by or in the name of an individual or family? Perhaps they’re operated by a company who uses their business profits to give grants. Some of the private foundations submit 990 PFs (PF meaning private foundation), which detail who they’ve given money to in the past. When you’re researching potential donors, it’s very helpful to see if their 990 PF is available.

Public foundations and charities receive their giveaway grant funds from a number of outside sources. Every type of foundation will have interests in where their investment is going. Find out if their funds will be cause-specific or if you have leeway to on where you think the money should go.

The real deal here is that you have to be ready to go back to the drawing board if you’re approaching more than one investor and make sure your proposal matches their terms.

Don’t presume the date is on because you’re ready to go

You’ve researched a potential funder and they’re attractive to you.

Step two is understanding you won’t be the only suitor at the table. Grant organizations are overwhelmed with applications, so you need to reach out and ask when they might be available to discuss your proposition. This could take time. You’ll need to be prepared to answer any initial questions they will have (they’re checking you out too) and be poised and patient as you present yourself.

This first contact between you and a potential donor can reveal key things for and about both parties. Maybe when they give you more information you’ll have to write them off your list of potential partners. Maybe they’ll be just what you’re looking for.

The key thing here is to reach out after your research and get to know the funder even a little better. It’s a delicate stage in the relationship so don’t rush it. First impressions, remember?

Be honest and confident

It would be very easy to post that picture of Henry Cavill/Megan Fox as your dating photo and watch the invites pour in. What’s not so great is showing up for dinner looking nervous and slightly less like Superman.

When you’re pitching yourself to a funding body deal in where you are now as much as where you want to be. Your mission is worthwhile and your vision is strong, but never be afraid to be open about areas where you’ll be able to improve. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Funders know you’re coming to them because you need help. You’re showing initiative. You want to grow. You aspire to something greater. Painting a picture of a perfect organization will make grantors wonder why they’re needed in the first place. Honesty means credibility in the eyes of investors.

Approach the funder who has what you want to receive and who is looking for what you want to give. Know what you want, know what they want, and you’ll be doing great out of the gate.

This dating imagery is completely appropriate

We’re not kidding. If you’re successful in gaining a grant, then you and your donor will become partners. You’ll be a team pursuing similar goals and moving forward in a union of give and take that aims to see both sides satisfied and fulfilled in a successful future. If that isn’t a relationship, we don’t know what is.

In any lasting partnership, the research you do before you even start one is a commitment in itself. Once you’ve absorbed this article and put it into practice you’ll be in the best position to start seeking a grant.

…and sometimes? You get a no even after doing everything right. We’ve all been there. If you’re refused a grant, don’t let it get you down. They may be playing hard to get or they’re just not the right match for you. There are plenty more Friends With Finance in the sea!

Have you looked into which partners may be right for you? In an ideal world there would be a passionate and people-friendly organization who would handle all your grant writing, report writing, research, review drafting and they’d – wait a minute, that’s us! We specialize in all that and more, and we’d love to team up and aid you in drafting the best possible grant request. You can reach us by phone, fax, email or contact form right here.

Real-World Grammar Lessons

Good grammar is alive and well in the real world and you will be judged for it.

We all have that one friend who takes great pleasure in correcting our grammar. They see nothing wrong with setting us straight about the way something should be said. “Actually,” they’ll say with snobbish authority, “You couldn’t care less.”

Time travel. You’re back in Mrs. Keefer’s freshman English class. She’s lecturing you about your wanton use of dangling participles and misplaced modifiers. You tell yourself not to be concerned about it because you’ll never have to worry about sentence diagrams and grammar out in the real world.

Now you’re staring at a grant application on the computer screen in front of you. This is important. You have to mean what you say. There’s a very real chance that the competency of your entire organization will be decided by your inability to remember when and why to capitalize a pronoun.

Your BFF may not care that about indiscriminate use of “your” when you mean “you’re.” They’re also not a position to bestow your organization with tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

What is grammar, anyway?

The problem with much of what we are taught in school is that our teachers don’t bother to explain why it’s important to know the difference between such phrases as “benefit from” and “benefit by.” As a teen, it’s completely unrelatable. But a foundation that grants millions of dollars to organizations is going to want to know that grown-up-you can make that distinction.

Maybe it would have been helpful if Mrs. Keefer had worked in a few real-world examples. At the very least, she could have explained the advantages of knowing the system and structure of language. “Ignorance of the law,” we are told, “is no excuse.” It may be true, but it doesn’t make it any less shocking when we’re arrested for something we didn’t even know was illegal.

Abusing the rules of grammar is no different. It’s all about perspective. You won’t be found guilty by a jury of your peers, and sentenced to hard labor. You may, however, be judged as unprofessional and not worthy of a foundation grant.

Big deal. Grammar is dead.

The Internet killed it. Practically every other Facebook post says “your” instead of “you’re.” Usage of the Oxford comma is about as common as a sighting of the Loch Ness Monster. Language is evolutionary. You have to use the lexicon of your audience to be accepted and understood. Stick that in your meme pipe and smoke it.

Bravo. It’s a well-constructed argument. Most of the people in your world won’t expect you to know the difference between a homonym and a homophone—or even a homograph, for that matter. All it takes, though, is one person who knows and cares. Like the person who will read and decide to approve your grant application.

It’s not as if they’re expecting you to communicate to them in a foreign language. It’s a language you should know how to write. Sometimes it can be a bit tricky. But, there’s an easy way to avoid incorrect usage.

Say it a different way.

Even Mrs. Keefer wouldn’t expect you to remember all the rules all these years later. She’d likely tell you to follow the advice of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.:

“As for your use of language: Remember that two great masters of language, William Shakespeare and James Joyce, wrote sentences which were almost childlike when their subjects were most profound. ‘To be or not to be?’ asks Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The longest word is three letters long. Joyce, when he was frisky, could put together a sentence as intricate and as glittering as a necklace for Cleopatra, but my favorite sentence in his short story ‘Eveline’ is just this one: ‘She was tired.’ At that point in the story, no other words could break the heart of a reader as those three words do.

“Simplicity of language is not only reputable, but perhaps even sacred. The Bible opens with a sentence well within the writing skills of a lively fourteen-year-old: ‘In the beginning God created the heaven and earth’.”

Mrs. Keefer would also tell you to seek out a professional to review your work. We can help with that Grant writing is all we do. Maybe it’s time our paths crossed.

Wait…Don’t Click on the Send Button Yet! How to Evaluate Your Grant Proposal

Can a stranger read it and understand exactly what you plan to do?

The very last field is finally filled in. Stick a fork in it and call it done. Time to click on the “submit” button and get that puppy off for consideration. Not so fast!

While you may have reached the point where you’re so familiar with the questions and answers you can close your eyes and see the text go swimming by, are you ready to hear that you’re not really finished? You’re not really finished.

But first, a bit of time traveling

You’re somewhere in the process of applying for a grant as you read this. The advice to come will be more helpful to know before you get to the end of the process.

And, now we’ll jump to the end of the process. The very last field is finally filled in. Stick a fork in it and call it done. Time to click…

There’s a lot of déjà vu that accompanies time travel.

As far as you’re concerned, the application is ready to go. This is where doubt starts to creep in. Have you correctly captured the mission? Did you spell out how you’ll measure the impact in a way that will resonate with the decision-makers? Have you made a convincing case as to why the grantmaker should partner with you? Maybe you should read it all again.

Do this instead

You’re too close to the application—and not because it’s right there in front of you on the screen. At this point, you’ve spent too much time with it. If there are mistakes, you won’t see them. That’s not because you’re careless.

You’re trying to convey meaning. You’ve activated parts of your brain that do very high-level thinking. When we rise to more complex processes our brain tends to generalize and dismiss detail components like spelling errors—or even word omissions. We focus on validating the complex ideas we want to communicate. What we see on the screen is overwritten by what we see in our heads.

You need to give the application to someone whose brain has not been on the journey yours has taken repeatedly as you completed the grant application. They’ll pay attention to the details along the way. Unlike you, they won’t anticipate the final destination. What they see on the screen or printed out will not be overwritten by what’s playing in their head.

Howdy, stranger

Make that someone a person who has little or no knowledge of your organization. We’ve all got that one friend who’s not afraid to tell you that you’re zigging when you should be zagging. They’re the person for this job. Yes, you’ll want them to catch typos. However, more importantly, you want them to catch your drift. After they’ve finished reading your application, can they tell you:

  • What your organization does?
  • Why your organization does it?
  • Why you selected this grantmaker?
  • Why the grantmaker should approve the funding?
  • How you and the grantmaker will know it was a successful decision?

You haven’t successfully communicated your meaning if they’re unable to answer these questions.

This person also needs to look over your financial numbers. Again, it’s to catch typos—but it’s also to make sure that the story you’re telling with the grant application is reflected in the numbers.

This takes time

How many pages is that application? This handing-it-off-to-a-stranger process is not something you’ll plan to do about an hour before the submission deadline. Aim for a week before the submission deadline.

It all makes sense to you. The numbers add up. You can’t think of a reason why your grant application shouldn’t sail right through the approval process. It may not be typos that undermine your intent. It could be that your intent has undermined the grant application’s meaning. The “why” of your narrative is clear in your head, but not in the application.

What needs to be fixed will be obvious when pointed out. You’ll likely find it’s also easy to fix. We can help if it isn’t. Where do you need to find clarity? Grant writing is all we do. Maybe it’s time our paths crossed.

The Secret Toolbox of Grant Writing Superheroes

Before you start grinding out a grant proposal, get the right resources at your disposal.

Feel ready to dive into grant writing? First, you need to make sure you’ve packed the necessary equipment, so you succeed─and don’t end up crashing and burning.

Here’s a look at some invaluable resources that can make you into a grant writing hero.

Webinars

GrantSpace, a service of the popular Foundation Center, offers free and reasonably rated self-paced e-learning classes to help you through the grant-writing process. The webinar courses cover such topics as introduction to proposal writing, creating a sound proposal budget, and storytelling for social media.

Grant Writing Checklist Concept Worksheet

After spending several hours looking at those webinars, you may be in the mood to start putting pen to paper. This grant-writing checklist concept worksheet from the University of Maine can help you organize some of the many thoughts running through your head right about now.

The worksheet is divided into sections:

  • Introduction
  • Background, appropriateness, and achievements
  • Needs addressed
  • Project objectives
  • Project partners
  • Program implementation
  • Evaluation methodology
  • Outreach activities
  • Project sustainability
  • Key personnel

Team Responsibilities Planning Worksheet

Nobody writes a grant proposal alone, so while you’re crafting ideas for your grant proposal, you need to figure out who will do what. For example, one person may be assigned to check your organization’s network to see whether you have a connection with the potential funder, while another team member dives in to gathering information about the funder’s organization.

To keep track of your grant-writing team and members’ responsibilities, consider using this valuable team responsibilities planning worksheet from the University of Maine.

Evernote

A favorite among writers, Evernote lets you keep online “notes” (documents or images) in “notebooks” that you create and organize yourself. You can create special notebooks to track your grant-writing process, such as:

  • Potential funders
  • Specific notebooks for each funder
  • Outreach efforts for each funder
  • Contact information for each funder

As inspiration hits, you can scrawl down a note superfast in Evernote, save it, and access it from your laptop, desktop computer, or smartphone with the Evernote app.

Dropbox

Similar to Evernote, Dropbox lets you save files in the cloud then access them from anywhere. Everything in Dropbox is synched automatically to all devices, so you’ll never be without a document when inspiration strikes.

Writers typically use Dropbox to save different drafts of documents, upload videos easily, and save images.

KanbanFlow

A must-have for any writer who wants to boost productivity, KanbanFlow is a lean project management tool. Its visual interface makes it easy for writers to keep track of what projects are hottest, what tasks need to be done, and where projects are in the process.

KanbanFlow also lets you use the Pomodoro technique, so you work 25 minutes without interruption and with maximum focus.

Google Drive

If you have different writers working on one proposal or just need everyone to access the same documents (without overwriting one another), Google Drive is vital.

It offers 15GB of free online storage for all types of images and documents. Plus, you can invite other users to view, download, and collaborate on the different files. Because the doc is in Google Drive, you don’t have to send endless emails back and forth with attachments.

Expert help at your fingertips

Busy saving the world or still find yourself overwhelmed? We live to craft well-written, thoroughly researched proposals, so you can focus on the other aspects of your organization. Put us to work for you today.

Great Storytelling: Finding Your Project Narrative

Key tips for successful grant writing

Just like a good novel, a standout grant proposal is full of action, excitement, love, suspense… No… that’s not right. We all know grant proposals won’t become required summer reading or great beach books. But the good ones do have one thing in common with amazing stories – a great narrative that makes sense and doesn’t confuse the reader. A FEMA webpage on writing a good narrative describes it this way, “The information you provide in the narrative…is what the Peer Reviewers use to determine if they recommend your project for funding.” Translation: you need to wow your reviewers with a cohesive story, not just spit out a bunch of disconnected facts and figures or vague promises.

The narrative is the section where you provide all of the information about your project or cause. According to the Writing Center at UNC-Chapel Hill, “The project narrative should supply all the details of the project, including a detailed statement of the problem, research objectives or goals, hypotheses, methods, procedures, outcomes or deliverables, and evaluation and dissemination of the results.”

Here are some of the key aspects for a compelling proposal narrative:

  1. State the financial need – You are not a starving artist and it is all about the money. How will this funding help you save the world? Your proposal should clearly state why the funding you’re requesting is needed and spell out exactly how the community would be served if the grant is awarded, including quantifiable outcomes. This is where personal stories matter. A Michigan State University presentation suggests, “…using compelling stories to illustrate points.” Details are important here, so be as clear and precise as you can, with verifiable numbers, but also with stories the funder can relate to.
  2. Articulate your approach – Here’s where you make it clear you know how to achieve your goals. Nobody likes stories with plot holes or improbable “how’d they get there?” moments, so again, be detailed and specific. You should also work to convince funders that your proposal is unique and that your organization is the best choice for accomplishing the goals of the grant.
  3. Explain how you will evaluate outcomes – Talking about what you want to accomplish isn’t enough. You need to be able to show how you will prove that your organization accomplished what it set out to do. Like a historical novel, you need facts to add validity to your story: verifiable statistics, surveys of the participants, or any methodology you will use to objectively gauge the overall success of the activities that were funded. Yep. More specifics.
  4. Provide a timeline – No funder wants to worry that their grant money will disappear down a rabbit hole. Use a timeline to show that your organization can provide a reasonable estimate of how much time it will take to complete the proposal’s objectives. You should be specific and realistic, including dates and durations, and outline the specific benchmarks you’ll use to gauge results. (Are you sensing a theme yet?)
  5. Give credentials and backgrounds of key participants – Every story needs a bit of character development. The grant reviewers will want to know who makes up your organization. Who are the key players? What experience do they have? What are their qualifications to do the work as related to the proposed project? What role will they play in achieving success with your organization’s project? Linking real people with real expertise to your goals shows you’ve (once again) thought out the details.

Follow the rules

While Faulkner and Joyce may have been able to get away with free-form wild stories, grant writers have no such luxury. It’s important to remember that funders will always provide specific guidelines outlining exactly what they want included in a grant proposal. The details outlined in the funder’s Request for Proposals are the-rules-that-must-not-be-broken, and may include things such an outline describing what information to include, the order of the information, and what should go on each page. It may even include details like line spacing, font type and size, and even the margins of a page. The level of detail may depend on who is providing the grant, but the rule is the same for all: always follow these instructions to the letter. Failing to do so can result in your application being deemed “non-responsive”, and it can be thrown out without even being read. Community Grants Now puts it this way, “A recent tweet from Proposal Cafe highlights this sentiment. “If your proposal is to lose, lose because it didn’t offer the best product/service, not because you didn’t follow the RFP instruction.”

If you’re not sure you can pull off the Great American Novel and keep track of all the plot twists,  we can help. We live to craft well-written, thoroughly researched proposals, so you can get back to changing the world. Put us to work for you today.

Applying for Grants: When You Have an Awesome List but No Time to Write

You’ve put in tons of research to create a great list, but now, you’ve run out of time to write a proposal

Think about all the time and care you put into building a great list. You’ve done an awesome job so far! Don’t drop the ball by rushing through the grant writing phase. You want to finish well and win big.

The following tips can help you carve some extra room in your schedule for getting that grant proposal written. You may have more time than you think.

Block off time in your schedule to write

Don’t solely use your appointment calendar for meetings, conferences, and face time with people… Plan specific times for writing that proposal. (If you don’t schedule it, it won’t get done.)

Use the Pomodoro technique to get things done

“It works like this: work diligently for 25 minutes, then take a three to five minute break,” states Jeff Boss in a Forbes article. “Repeat this cycle four times and then take a longer, 15 to 30 minute break. The purpose here is to keep your mental acuity sharp and avoid focus fatigue.”

Minimize distractions

Do you have too many items on your desk that pull your attention away from writing? Then clear off your desk. Find yourself going down the rabbit hole that is the Internet when you just need to look up one thing? Then disconnect while you focus on writing. Have text-happy friends and colleagues who keep distracting you? Power down for a while.

Consider what your main distractions are, and then work to eliminate them, so you can stay better focused and use your time more wisely.

Delegate

You’ve blocked off time, used the Pomodoro technique, and done what you can to find extra time to write that grant proposal. But you still need more time. (After all, you can save time, not make it!)

Consider delegating the grant writing, so you can focus on other critical components of growing your organization.

“You want to spend your time doing only those things that you alone can do,” says Geoffrey James, contributing editor at Inc.

How you can regularly check ‘grant writing’ off your to-do list

If you’re self-motivated and actively building relationships with funders, you should sign up for our Assist membership program.

Our monthly service is specifically for organizations like yours that need help writing grant proposals. You already know the funders you want to approach and have identified different opportunities.

It’s just that frustrating lack of time that has you stressed out.

When you sign up for The Assist, we tackle the time-sucking task of writing grant proposals, and our long experience means that those proposals stand the best chance for approval.

You also may find yourself needing a little extra help now and then with research, verification, or reporting. We can help with that, too. As an Assist member, you get deep, deep discounts on services you need occasionally.

Delegating tasks just makes sense when you can trust who you delegate to. We’ve got years of experience and the time to do it.

Sign up for The Assist and enjoy the breathing room you now have in your schedule, so you can focus on growing your organization and making the world a better place.

Grant Writing: What Makes Your Proposal Stand Out From the Crowd

Your application will have multiple parts, but will each one tell the same story?

“Oh, I could never do that,” they say. The thing they could never do is to ask for money. If you press them for a reason, it invariably leads to self-perception. Those who say they could never ask for money don’t want to be thought of as disadvantaged or responsible for why they should ask for money.

Few grant writers find themselves in this category. Often, what sets apart a successful grant writer from those who struggle is their attitude toward asking. You’ll notice a selective use of verbs and adjectives in their proposals. This helps them correctly position their organizations in the minds of funders. It’s about psychology and positioning, and there are 4 writing tips you can use along the way.

1. For goodness sakes, do your homework!

Take a moment and roll your eyes in disbelief. Get it out of your system. Does it really need to be said? The answer is a resounding yes. There’s the need to be assured that the grantor’s interest and funding philosophies align.

It’s only the beginning. Go past the all the items on the checklist you’ve made. Give yourself time to wander and do some associating. This foundation is more than a funding source. It’s an organization that can have extremely useful connections. You won’t know this until you research and look for patterns to jump out at you.

2. Present a logical solution

While it’s true that foundations and funders are on the lookout for innovators, your solution still must be processed and validated for funding. For that, it must be in the form of a story that has a beginning, where you’ll present the problem. Then you’ll move on to present your solution. The third part is a projection of your outcomes.

It’s a 3-part story. Don’t generate any sub-parts, and don’t change the order.

The problem/solution/results formula prevents grantors from getting lost as they read through your proposal. The steps are logical. It allows you to be in control of the story being told with the proposal’s narrative.

  • Here’s the problem
  • Here’s what we’re going to do
  • Here’s what will happen when we apply the solution

3. Convince the grantmaker you know what you’re doing

This is not about competence. Due diligence will decide whether your organization has succeeded in the past and can implement the program outlined in your grant application.

This is about connectivity. Funders and foundations want to know you understand the community you serve. They’re looking for reasons to support your solution. Those reasons aren’t a list of “because” statements. It’s a story of insight that’s expressed with statistics, followed with interpretations and conclusions.

Grantors are looking for more than fundable ideas. They also want reassurance that your organization will be a capable fiduciary steward of their grant. In most cases, that’s historical proof. Your application will call out the skills and experience of your organization’s leaders.

4. Stick to the story

Many people look at grant applications as having two parts. There’s the narrative, and there’s the budget. The narrative is where you craft a compelling story about how you will create social change with the funding from the grant.

Awesome! And do those spreadsheets in the budget area tell that same story?

Grant applications get rejected when the story of your numbers is different than the story of your narrative. A grantmaker reviewing your application should be able to look at the budget alone and decide if it’s worth supporting. It should need no help from your narrative. It should be a part of your narrative.

5. Remember who you’re writing for

It’s not always appropriate or advisable, but sometimes when you have a question there is no better way to continue than to pick up the phone and have a person-to-person conversation with a foundation representative. Why guess what they want to see to decide? When you take the time to build a relationship with a funder, you can be confident that your application focuses on what’s important to them, not just what’s important to you. And that’s a great way to stand out.

If you need help getting your proposals noticed, put us to work for you. Grant writing is all we do. Contact us today.

Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Grant Writer?

You need more than a love of writing to craft a well-written proposal that achieves results

Poetry, scripts, short stories and…grant proposals? Yes, grant writing is a genre unto itself. You may enjoy writing for pleasure or find dashing off a well-written email easy, but grant writers must possess a special skill set to write a proposal.

To be able to hone winning grant proposals, you need the following:

An ability to stay organized

A messy desk is not a sign of a genius in the world of grant writing. On the contrary, a successful grant writer must be meticulous in tracking information, such as:

  • The organization’s history, contact info, mission statement, brand narrative, programs, and projects
  • Lists of past donors, possible donors, and resources for finding them
  • Documentation of the extraordinary accomplishments of your organization
  • Outreach efforts
  • Calendar of deadlines, important dates, meetings, conferences, meet-and-greets, and fundraising events

You have to maintain this level of organization throughout the entire process, starting long before you put pen to paper and even after you’ve submitted your proposal.

Stellar research skills

To be a grant writer, you need a deep-rooted curiosity to constantly seek out possible funders, decipher the requirements and legalities of the grant, get to know your possible funders, understand how to best present information to them, learn from rejections, and, oh, so much more.

In other words, you must possess an insatiable hunger for learning.

“Identifying state agencies, private foundations, and other organizations that give grants to individuals or small businesses requires considerable time, effort, and research,” warns Carolyn M. Brown.

The research that you do in the beginning of the process is crucial – it can save you time and effort in the long run.

Excellent time management skills

If you want to be a grant writer, you must know how to use time efficiently – not just for your organization but also for the potential funders. You have to put in the research to craft well-written proposals that don’t waste the funder’s time. (In other words, they’re not sloppy, meandering, poorly written pieces that do not interest the funder.)

You also respect time by scheduling only necessary meetings. For example, if the information can be presented well in any email, consider writing one instead of forcing everyone to attend a meeting.

The most important time management rule is: Never miss a funder deadline. Deadlines must be met ─ not viewed as suggestions.

Clear, engaging writing skills

Writing for a grant needs to be strong, crisp, and informative. Everything within the proposal should serve a purpose and serve that purpose well.

Your grant writing needs to focused, clear, and organized, so that readers will get a clear picture of:

  • Your credibility
  • The problem or issue
  • Reasons for your proposal (including benefits and goals)
  • How the grant will help to ease or solve the issue

The proposal, as a whole, should be cohesive as well. Paragraphs should naturally flow from one section to another and not be a series of disconnected thoughts.

In addition to adhering to the overall tone and style of the proposal, a grant writer should make sure that it doesn’t have typos or grammatical errors. Sloppy writing suggests sloppy thinking.

Critical eye

As a grant writer, you can’t get too attached to your own writing. You need to revise (and revise and revise) your proposal, critically looking at writing that needs to be tightened, deleted, or strengthened.

“In your revision and editing, ask your readers to give careful consideration to whether you’ve made explicit the connections between your research objectives and methodology,” according to the Writing Center.

  • For example, you’ll have to ask yourself:
  • Have I made a compelling case?
  • Is my hypothesis clear?
  • Does my project sound doable or too lofty?
  • Did I provide metrics and measurements for determining its success?

Ability to ask for help when needed

Researching opportunities, getting materials together, writing a proposal, and waiting to see whether the grant has been awarded to your organization all takes a lot of time. So, you need to know when you simply do not have the time or energy to dedicate to writing a proposal.

It’s all right to admit that you need help writing a proposal. At Williams Grant Writing, we can dedicate the time to crafting well-written, thoroughly researched proposals, so you can focus on the other aspects of your organization. Put us to work for you today.